The High Court yesterday directed the government to immediately stop plying of all unfit motor vehicles across the country.

Issuing a suo moto rule, the court also ordered the authorities concerned to freeze around 19 lakh fake driving licences.

The HC bench of Justice Quazi-Reza-Ul Haque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman asked the authorities to take legal action against the persons who are using fake licences.

Besides, the court also asked the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) chairman to submit a report after complying with the order in 30 days.

In the rule, the court asked the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks what actions have so far been taken as a large number of vehicles are running without valid documents.

The communications secretary, home secretary, inspector general of police and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority chairman have been made respondents to the rule.

The government must stop plying of any motor vehicles, which are not fit as per Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1983, Deputy Attorney General Tapas Kumar Biswas told The Daily Star. 

The HC judges came up with the order and rule following a report published in The Daily Sun on August 2 with the headline “Road accident: 19 lakh fake drivers rule the highways”.

According to the report, as many as 191 people were killed in 154 road accidents in the country in a single week from July 15 to 21 as 19 lakh fake licence holders are ruling the highways recklessly.

The report citing sources said 60 percent of the accidents take place due to faults of the drivers, who include even adolescents. Some 1.98 lakh driving licences are alleged to have been issued without examination and renewal of the licences is also done in the same way.